Hippetihop (Music Finds #28)

“Music Finds” is a series with new posts here on the blog each Wednesday. The concept is as follows:As I listen to a lot of music, I from time to time finds a piece that sticks out, sometimes because it’s quirky, mixed two very unlikely genres, unlikely instruments, or just damn right having an awesome sound. Expect any kind of genre to appear here. These songs is what I will be sharing with you in these posts called “Music Finds”
But really it’s mostly a segment about some of my most played songs!”

As an outcome from a couple of conversations during this past week, I thought the subject of old-school hip hop would be a good theme for this weeks Music Finds. Get your wall sized clock necklaces out!

While on the subject – a final bonus on the same theme but in a slightly different shape than the above; chap hop innovator Mr. B presenting some of the most noticeable jams of hip hop through the ages accompanied with his banjolele. It’s well worth your time.

Hippetihop is such a cute and funny word. It can make any day a bit hoppier. Reveling in my own word-nerd-ness.

This is a trip down memory lane for me. Many associations later, it was great fun!

If you were in school age during the 90’s I think you will have some sort of relation to RUN-D.M.C. They were after all in the middle of all that so typically 90’s political examples of a well-behaved black population of America. TV of all kinds was full of it and it was very popular among viewers. Many non-white artists also had big breakthroughs during the 90’s. Which can be seen in the surge of nostalgia in today’s media looking back at actors, music and other culture of that time.

To be fair I do enjoy their kind of rhyming and lyric style because it’s not really I think what you expect when you first see them. They were never really trying on that I’m a bad ass hip hop artist bullshit. Which is very apparent and I suppose important in this song. There’s a lot of seriousness hidden in their music and a lot of social criticism that comes from growing up and living in troubled area, not just using it to get to fame. Not going to say I was a fan as we know that term but I can admire the crafting all the same. And I have heard them talk socio-politics on panels and they did and those still alive probably still have important things to say about life.

I really can’t remember seeing any big clock necklaces in real life, but it was a thing for sure. But what reminded me even more of the 90’s wave in this video is those white Adidas shoes. It’s funny how much shoes reflects the image of a person, not least musicians. Many artists do show off shoes in videos. Another thing to do is many collaborations with other artists, of other racial background (much sarcasm needed). I still remember signing up for Hotmail sometime before the switch of millennium and getting one of the dumbest required information box possible, it said race. I was like, the flaming hell, why? At that time I hardly knew what Caucasian meant and I still don’t really know nor why it was required knowledge for an email account. And that kind of thinking came into the spotlight when you have artist like RUN-D.M.C collaborating and thus pointing out those dimmed lines of difference that was, still is, so very much there. I very much enjoyed their collaborations and how they kept mashing styles together because you can.

And of course it had to be this video with Penn and Teller… And for some unexplainable reason that made me think of Sabrina the Teenage Witch of all other things they have done. I had to Google it and that series premiered in the states September 96. Of course it did…

Both associating and rhyming is tricky, as tricky as staying alive. Lastly I still remember when the news came that Jam Master Jay had been shot and killed. I wasn’t surprised as such, but it’s not the way it should be. By then he was father and musician and producer. Can’t say most people thought of that though, another black rapper shot, not big news. Speaking up and fame is a dangerous combination, but it really ought not to make people silent. That would truly be to lose.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Now that wasn’t yesterday. This song is old, the observations in it still valid. The message is a powerful song, not least when the father and husband perspective gets mixed in with the observations, for that undeniable reality. I’d say it has caught life as the tough journey it is and the jungle you sometimes get stuck in, but there’s also a sort of love and care talking about it. Something stops you from going under, nothing is ever just bleak. Unless you make it bleak, looking for the easy way out. It’s not easy growing up, least of all in the ghettoes. People tend to die young far too often in these second rate places. Easier to find yourself upon that road to a quick end, but it’s about as easy to do so in a posh environment where you’re nothing unless living up to a special ideal. Life ain’t easy regardless of when and where, all you can do is love as best you can and try and inspire others to do the same.

Music I suppose is a way to deal with this dystopian outlook. As is any other art form so there’s no surprise that the suburbs are full of art both sanctioned and unsanctioned. Where else in a city would love in different forms blossom on its own without becoming a product?

Somehow I ended up loosely tying this song to P.O.D’s song The Messenjah. Yes I know that is the name of a Canadian (did not know they were from Canada though) reggae band but the lyrics of the P.O.D song kind of shadows some of the words used in The Message which is a classic so it’s not impossible. I just thought it was an odd connection to other musicians and fathers. People who write about P.O.D keep referring to them as bringing a message.

LL Cool J
He brought a lot of attitude (and love). A lot of emotions tied to his style. A comeback bah… like I was ever truly gone. Got to love that ironic tone. He brings mother into the mix. I think that this kind of social reflective hip hop has always had family in them. Perhaps in a bigger context than simply meaning by blood, a bit like the Norse mythology express the concept of family. I’d say it’s an essential theme. This song appears to be pretty straight forward; it’s a declaration of your enemy or enemies end. No question. The mere thought brings a smile.

Erik B.& Rakim
Oh man it’s been years since this met my ear I don’t mind telling you. A good reminder, no story apart from I’m always curious and so I find things. Now, this has quite a bit of attitude too. Interesting reading for a writer about all clashes over who said what first, who copied who and who talked shit about etc. I can relate to that. Because rhymes are tricky to create! I don’t mind being an inspiration, it’s great to see how you influence people to create something new. Utter flattery! To see it evolve, such a rush! That’s when you did something frightfully important. To simply copy the words and expressions and not give any credit however is a mistake, one that will cost in respect and perhaps more. And that ain’t no joke either. There are many interesting interpretations of this. I read this as a warning and a musical smack to wise up and don’t be such a child. Also I agree that this kind of writing deserves to not be taken lightly or as a joke. This is serious and real. Perhaps it’s also a caution; don’t think you’ve had the last laugh or a laugh at my expense. You’d be the one being laughed at, because I’m no joke.

Mr.B
Oh and a plot twist. ^^ In all seriousness this is absolutely brilliant! So totally my kind of thing and sure worth the time. To be fair most modest things are. Perfect example of using other people’s work in a flattering way as inspiration. So weird but excellent to hear American hip hop in English. And yes I enjoy his odd posh kind of language rhyme it’s not what we expect either and therefore it’s great.

This all turns into quite the composition, I am deeply impressed.

If anyone wonders, yes it happens that I listen to this kind of thing. Lately it’s mostly of French or English origin if I venture myself, but the roots is American. What a poor choice of words, typical of my white blindness. If you can’t joke about the white shame then the racial bullshit wins. In the end class, gender and race are all categories we invented to classify people, for some reason. People are different, they have different backgrounds and if you’re curious enough you can learn to love just by listening. I’m that kind of if only you listen to people optimist. It’s not always that easy, but it’s neither always more difficult than that.

Does kindness care about our human folly?
I’d like to believe that it’s as blind as love.